Savor the Flavor of Eating Right

Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month?
National Nutrition Month is an initiative of the Academy of Nutrition &
Dietetics (AND), the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition
professionals (including both of ILC’s registered dietitian
nutritionists!). All month long, nutrition professionals across the country
are promoting sound, science-based approaches to developing healthy eating and
physical activity habits. Throughout March, our dietitians have special
activities and posts planned to celebrate. Check out our events calendar to
see when they’ll be visiting your café.

We’re especially excited about this year’s theme: Savor the
Flavor of Eating Right. According to AND’s
website, this theme “encourages everyone to take time to enjoy food
traditions and appreciate the pleasures, great flavors, and social experiences
food can add to our lives. How, when, why, and where we eat are just as
important as what we eat.”

We wholeheartedly agree! Our mission this month is to help
you savor the flavor of eating right at work and at home. To get started, try
some of our favorite tips to increase your enjoyment of wholesome food:

Try new foods and
recipes. Not only does varying what you eat ensure you get all the
nutrition you need, it also makes eating much more exciting and enjoyable! Make
a resolution to try new foods this month. Maybe you want to try one new recipe
per week (the recipes on our
site are a great place to start). Or, next time you’re at the grocery store
or farmer’s market, toss a new-to-you fruit or vegetable into your cart and
learn how to prepare it. This
article provides a primer on 20 veggies you might not have cooked before.
Not into cooking? Try a quinoa, barley, bean, or veggie-based dish you’ve never
had before next time you eat lunch in our café.

Use more herbs and
spices. Herbs and spices add flavor without salt, plus many herbs and
spices are rich
in health-promoting antioxidants. Not sure where to start? Take an
inventory of your spice cabinet, and then use this
handy infographic to get ideas for foods to try your dried herbs and spices
on. For an international flavor, try some of these traditional
flavor profiles. Don’t be afraid to experiment—you may invent a new
favorite recipe!

Prioritize family
meals. If you have a family, eating together is a great way to enjoy food,
connect, and improve your health, but busy schedules can make family meals
difficult. Try these tips from Cooking
Matters and the University
of Washington to make family meals an enjoyable reality. Don’t have a
family? The social aspect of eating is still an important one. This month,
consider making a lunch date with coworkers or inviting friends over for Sunday
dinner.

Pay attention to your
food. Mindful eating is all about enjoying your food and taking the time to
focus on what and why you’re eating. Not only can this increase your enjoyment,
but many people find this approach helps them better understand and improve
their relationship with food. Learn more about mindful eating here.

What are your favorite tips for savoring the flavor of
eating right? Share them with our dietitians when you see them in your café
this month!